New data released by online website Fixr has shown that both Midland and Odessa are the hardest cities to live in for working-class families, minimum-wage workers, young families and young workers because the annual costs of living exceed income.

The same report says that while middle and higher income families actually take home money, Midland still ranks low on the list because the high cost of living cuts into discretionary income.

Fixr’s rankings measured 32 metropolitan areas in Texas. Single freelancers in Midland broke even when income and expenses were compared but fared better than other groups with housing as they are able to afford at least 70 percent of the market. For single people making between $15,000 and $20,000 a year, Fixr estimated that the cost of living in Midland would put these workers at least $2,000 in debt and ranked Midland at the very bottom along with Odessa where the same workers were said to be over $3,000 in debt. Young and working class families fared even worse, with the average household making over $60,000 but ending the year in over $10,000 in debt. Affordable housing options for these four groups of workers in Midland was ranked at 20 percent at best, and below 10 percent at worst.

As someone who lives in these income brackets, I can say that these figures do not lie. I am lucky that I pay only $600 for rent and utilities, while my friends and coworkers pay sometimes double that. These exorbitant rates don’t just eat into discretionary income; it also eats into money that’s needed for everyday supplies such as food, gas, and vehicle maintenance.

Even when you look at middle class and upper class workers the picture doesn’t get much rosier. A middle class couple renting a 2-3 bedroom house is estimated to have only $17,000 a year left over after expenses, ranking Midland at the bottom of the rankings despite the couple having a 90 percent chance of finding affordable housing. Upper middle class families with two children make over $200,000 a year but are left with only $50,000 after expenses.

So, who fares the best in Midland? Fixr’s so-called “highly educated workaholics” described as “a married couple in their 40’s; he is a physician and she is a college professor.” The childless couple makes over $283,000 a year and after expenses have over $89,000 in discretionary income, ranking Midland No. 18 in the list.

So Midlanders, how can the city balance out its cost of living for those of us making less than six-digits? If you make less than $60,000, how do you survive? Have you been forced to change your ways?